Main Events in Spanish King Juan Carlos Reign
Spain's King Juan Carlos announced Monday he is abdicating after a 39-year reign that spanned the end of a dictatorship, the re-birth of democracy, an economic crisis and several royal scandals.
Here are the key events of the 76-year-old monarch's reign:
CORONATION
On November 22, 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco who ruled Spain for four decades, the parliament proclaims Juan Carlos as king. Five days later, Juan Carlos is anointed in central Madrid's Jeronimos Church. The new king supports parliamentary elections and the drawing-up of a new democratic constitution.
ATTEMPTED COUP
On November 23, 1981 soldiers burst shooting into parliament in an attempted military coup. Hours later, Juan Carlos appears on national television demanding an end to the revolt. "I knew that the soldiers were going to agree because I had been named by Franco," he said later.
MADRID TRAIN BOMBING
After the Madrid train bombings of March 11, 2004, Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia throw protocol aside at a memorial service, comforting the families of some of the 191 people killed. The royals' show of sympathy endears them to many Spaniards.
ELEPHANT HUNT
On April 18, 2012, Juan Carlos issues an unprecedented public apology for taking a luxury elephant-hunting safari to Botswana that sparked indignation in recession-hit Spain. He said sorry while emerging on crutches from hospital after breaking his hip on the visit and being forced to return to Spain.
CORRUPTION SCANDAL
On February 8, 2014, the king's eldest daughter, Princess Cristina, is questioned by an investigating judge on suspicion of involvement in her husband Inaki Urdangarin's allegedly corrupt business practices. Urdangarin's non-profit Noos Institute is accused of creaming off money from government contracts for organizing sports events and conferences.
ABDICATION
On June 2, Juan Carlos announces he has decided to abdicate to allow the "renewal" of the monarchy. He will hand over the throne to his son, 46-year-old Felipe de Borbon, Prince of Asturias, a 1.98-meter (six foot six inches) tall, former Olympic yachtsman, who has been relatively unscathed by the scandals hurting others in the royal family.
Source: Agence France Presse
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